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Procedures/Preference

PERTAINING TO GENERAL COUNTY CIVIL MATTERS (NON-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED):

SCHEDULING HEARINGS AND CANCELLATION OF HEARINGS:

A motion must be filed with the Clerk of Court before setting the matter for hearing in JAWS or requesting hearing time from the Judicial Assistant.

All matters requiring 15 minutes or less of hearing time must be scheduled through JAWS (UMC calendar).

Any matters requiring more than 15 minutes of hearing time must be scheduled through Judicial Assistant Janet Ritchie. You may contact her at (813) 272-5122 to obtain available hearing times.

After obtaining a hearing time either through JAWS or the Judicial Assistant, a Notice of Hearing must be e-filed with the Clerk of Court and a copy mailed or emailed to my office.

Any hearing cancelation must be made in writing and emailed to civdivu@fljud13.org

SUBMITTING ORDERS:

A HARD COPY OF PROPOSED ORDERS, ALONG WITH ENVELOPES AND POSTAGE, MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE JUDGE'S OFFICE.

After a hearing, proposed orders along with copies for conforming are to be submitted to the court on paper. Please also include addressed envelopes with postage for each party due to receive a copy of the order.

Please submit orders to the court within three (3) weeks of the hearing and ruling.

APPEARANCE AT HEARINGS:

Appearance for a hearing on a Uniform Motion Calendar can occur by phone without prior express permission of the Court. Any party appearing by phone shall call in to the court at the scheduled hearing time by calling (813) 272-5929.

No party may appear by phone for a pre-trial conference. Any special request for phone appearance must be submitted to the Court in writing prior to the scheduled pre-trial.

No party may appear by phone for a mediation. Any special request for phone appearance must be submitted to the Court in writing prior to the scheduled final hearing.

No party may appear by phone for a final hearing. Any special request for phone appearance must be submitted to the Court in writing prior to the scheduled final hearing.

No party may appear by phone for a hearing scheduled for one (1) hour or longer.

Any other hearing for which an attorney or party wishes to appear by phone, permission must be sought from the Court through a written motion.

E-FILING BY ATTORNEYS:

All motions, affidavits, stipulations and any document except an order is to be electronically filed through the e-filing portal.

CASE LAW AND LEGAL AUTHORITY:

Please provide case law and any legal authority to the court two (2) business days prior to a scheduled hearing.